Rescued Hawk Released Into Wild In Southeastern Tucson

TUCSON, AZ — A hawk that had been nursed back to health after being found on the side of a Tucson freeway was released back into the wild Thursday.

The red-tailed hawk had been found on the center median of Interstate 10 last month, dazed from a concussion and freezing from the cooler temperatures. Tucson native Chris Hatfield rescued her and brought her to the Tucson Wildlife Center. He was also the one to release her after she recovered from her injuries, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

Hatfield let her out of her carrier at the Rancho Valencia Recreation Area where she flew into the mesquite trees.

Patch has reached out to the Tucson Wildlife Center for comment.

In an update earlier this month, the center said the hawk had crashed into a vehicle, leaving it concussed and with blood in the back part of the eyes and the ears. It received daily treatment at the wildlife sanctuary and eventually recovered.

The hawk eventually took off flying after some time in the trees Thursday when another red-tailed hawk appeared to chase her, which the center believed might have been her mate. The two eventually flew off together.